'It was a monster' - pit bull kills 4-year-old girl in LA

(WDSU) - Police in Houma, Louisiana are investigating a deadly dog attack that left a 4-year-old girl dead.

The incident happened about 7 p.m. Tuesday inside an apartment in Houma.

When officers arrived, they learned that a large 2-year-old, 130-pound male pit bull named Niko, had attacked the child inside an apartment and when the mother tried to fight the dog off, the pit bull attacked her.

Officials said the officers saw the pit bull running loose inside the apartment acting in a "very vicious manner."

In an effort to reduce further injuries, officers had to shoot and kill the dog.

In a news conference, police said officers at the scene described the dog that attacked the girl as a "monster."